Large Dog Agility Events

Dog agility is a powerful way for pet and human companion to form a special bond. This sport has gained worldwide popularity and truly enhances the lives of dogs and their human companions in myriad ways.  For large intelligent and sensitive dogs such as Great Danes,  agility training is an excellent way to get much needed physical exercise, special time with human companions, and mental stimulation.

Certainly, large dog agility training presents a range of challenges, not the least of which is finding agility equipment big enough to accommodate large dogs.  Large dogs aren’t usually natural burrowers like many of their smaller counterparts and training a large dog to go into tunnels requires patience and technique.If you become interested in agility competitions, you’ll need to find dog agility events for big dogs.

Dog agility training differs from standard dog trick training. It  involves teaching your dog the best way to be a competitive stunt performer, learning how to hop over hurdles, navigate tunnels, maneavering around obstacle course rods, and balancing on see-saws.  With large dogs, agility events much resemble equestrian events which first inspired the development of the sport of agility. You’ll find even dog agility events to be a new and healthy way to  display the agility accomplishmens of your dog and yourself as a team. OK, to show off, why not. occasions for shows of dog agility, much like equine shows, simply with dogs. Just in case your pet is very active and loves to play, he just could love this type of activity.

When Should a Dog Learn Dog Agility?

A dog should be at least 9 months of age before dog agility training commences. A dog should be grown up and sufficiently developed physically to handle the agility training process without getting injured a lot. Intially a dog should be placed in a starter class or the equivalent if training your dog at home, to develop skills and capabilities. Dog and companion first learn the basics of dog agility before moving onto more advanced training.

Once he is within the advanced group, they can begin competing in dog agility contests, and may not be capable of compete in master level competitions until winning a good number of advanced level matches. . There’s a real 6-part qualification process for a dog to earn a specialist title, and a dog must truly be great to do so.

Dog Agility Obstacles

You’ll find a variety of dog obstacles and courses recreational sport for dogs to master in agility events. For beginners, there are usually available dog agility starter kits on the market. It becomes an affordable, fundamental dog agility course. It’s lightweight and just transportable for people that are interested in practicing in many different places. For people who’re usually stationary and like the greatest quality in agility equipment, you’ll find more professional obstacles that could be considered. Agility pole guides are often bought by entrepreneurs to help in leading the canine using a new or different obstacle. They’re very useful for beginners and tend to be employed by professionals and trainers.

Specific portions of obstacles, or individual equipment items may be bought individually and so are loved by entrepreneurs with dogs well acquainted with agility. Dog tunnels are normal obstacles found in agility. You’ll find two fundamental types of tunnels, for example outdoors tunnel, as well as the other might be the closed tunnel. An empty dog tunnel is regarded as the common form, enabling dogs to give a conveyable tube that’s open at lack of. Closed dog tunnels are more uncommon and so are more advance, enabling a failing a part of fabric for your dog to endure alone. Both forms are lightweight and straightforward to help keep.

Dog Agility Can Add Special Joy to a Dog’s Life

A dog’s most joyful moments usually involve running, jumping, catching, and stretching.  Large dogs needs more space for such physical activity than smaller dogs. Dog agility training can help turn idle dogs into active dogs that age superbly and happily. You might be surprised to know the most difficult part of dog agility is starting. However, the thrills and feelings of accomplishment that you and your dog enjoy and you  progress is reward enough to inspire you to happiliy continue doing it. Dog agility training is quite exciting and beneficial for you and your large dog with all of its high energy and need to think and adjust quickly

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Dog Agility Equipment Set

• 12 Adjustable Agility Weave Poles
• Three Versatile Dog Agility Jumps

Kyjen Dog-Agility Starter Kit
publisher: Kyjen
ASIN: B000AAM0GW
EAN: 0700603401005
sales rank: 2850
price: $32.03 (new), $40.46 (used)

This Dog agility Starter Kit Features

User-friendly portable obstacle course:

• weave poles
• high jump
• open tunnel
• pause box
• start/finish line
• stop watch
• award ribbons
• set up and usage instructions
• game rules
• and more.

Image via Wikipedia

dog agility training can be an expensive sport to get involved in. These events involve large obstacle courses that dogs must traverse, and the vast majority of these objects are not everyday items. As such, it is imperative that you expose your dogs to these different objects if you intend to do well in the competition. Buying all these objects is costly for even the deepest pockets, but you can alleviate some of the cost by purchasing a dog agility starter kit.

Starter kits will not have the larger objects, like see-saws or A frames, but they will contain a few weave poles which can be transformed into jumps or double jumps. These are considered some of the most difficult obstacles in dog agility competitions, and can help you determine if your dog is ready for larger obstacles. Some dogs lack the coordination or maturity to be able to do well with the larger, and potentially more dangerous objects.

In general, starter kits are a good idea because they will often come with trainer tools as well, and often a short introduction to the sport, as well as guide to getting started on obstacle training. Typical tools would include ribbons, wands, and other training tools which can get you started. These may not always be available outside of a starter kit.

If you were to simply dive right in and attempt to create your own obstacles, you will likely run into trouble without the correct training tools and the knowledge of how to get started, and in addition, you run the risk of injuring your pet. Most professional agility training equipment is built with the animal in mind, and are built to fall apart easily on contact to be reassembled. This ensures that your animal is not injured when running these basic obstacles. These advanced designs are difficult, if not impossible to replicate at home.

You must also consider the cost of the larger objects. While they certainly may look more impressive and be more difficult to train for, these objects are costly, and difficult to store. Sometimes you can take advantage of local parks and playgrounds for some of these obstacles, but remember to check with local ordinances before you do. Some playgrounds may disallow dogs from the playground area and fine you if your dog is seen working on the equipment.

Even if you felt confident in that, you would still have to invest in a training manual and some tools. If you purchase all of these separately, then you?re still spending a majority of the money that you would spend on a starter kit anyways.

Recommended Dog Agility Starter Kit

Agility in the Bag
publisher: Affordable Agility, Inc
ASIN: B002XE0HPY
sales rank: 1846
price: $174.95 (new)

The Agility in a Bag set is the perfect solution for everyone just starting off in the fun sport of dog agility. Practice at home, or take it on the road. Everything you need in convenient carrying bags! Comes with 5 popular agility obstacles that can be used indoors or out. Made of furniture grade UV stabilized plastic. Weighs only 18 lbs. Includes: (1) WEAVE POLE SET: 6 pole set with free standing base. (2) HURDLE JUMP: The jump bar adjusts in height by sliding jump cups up and down on side bars. (3) TIRE JUMP: 22″ diameter hoop slides up and down on side bars for adjusting for any size dog. (4) PAUSE BOX: Great training aid and substitute for the pause table. (5) TUNNEL Dacron canvas type 3′ tunnel with 22″ diameter. Use the tunnel by itself, or attach the chute. (6) CHUTE: Attachable 8′ chute. Attaches with velcro. (7) CARRYING BAG: Sturdy canvas bag with zipper closure and extra wide strap. (8) ALSO INCLUDES: Colored vinyl tape for decorating poles and easy assembly and training tips. (Colors may vary from what is pictured). Our most popular item!

Image via Wikipedia

by Adam Fulford

Agility competitions are quickly becoming one of the most popular sporting events in the nation. Introduced in America in 1977, these events have grown from a single event at a dog show, to hundreds, and even thousands of events nationwide, held in accordance with other shows, and on their own. Because of the high energy and the athleticism featured by both dog and owner, this sport has become one of the most popular spectator sports in America.

Many owners enjoy the show so much that they find themselves wanting to participate. It is obvious from even a casual glance that the dogs and the owners are having a great deal of fun, and there are almost always great prizes given away for winning the event. However, what makes this event so appealing also makes it very difficult to begin training for.

The problem with getting involved in agility competitions is that the equipment is large and bulky, and can be very expensive. The majority of pet owners have little access to professional equipment, and that often makes them lose hope in their ability to participate. While the high cost and difficulty in storing the equipment is certainly a detriment, there are many options available to the savvy dog owner who wants to begin training their dog.

Fortunately, many pieces of dog agility obstacles are fairly simple to make and train for. Jumps can be constructed out of just about anything, and other obstacles, like see-saws or teeter-totters can be found on local playgrounds. While care must be taken to avoid breaking any laws regarding public property, many dog owners take advantage of their local park as a great place to introduce their dogs to some advanced equipment.

Then there is also the difficulty in knowing how to start training your dog to learn these obstacles. Many dog owners struggle with the basics of teaching their dog how to approach these objects and complete them successfully, as many dogs will seem fearful of the objects to begin with. After all, the rules around the house do not apply in agility training; you want the dog to run and jump in an agility competition, and this drastic change in behavior is difficult for many dogs to adjust to.

To begin with, watch your dog at play, and notice their natural tendencies. Some dogs are natural jumpers, and some are natural burrowers and diggers, while others must be taught to do these things. If you begin training by focusing on the things that your dog seems to be able to do naturally, then they are more likely to succeed, making the whole training process much easier, and more fun, for the both of you. By slowly introducing the dog to new equipment and new skills, there is a much greater chance for success.

by Adam Fulford

dog agility competitions have become a very popular sport for both adults and children alike. These events, which are usually scheduled in conjunction with a traditional dog show, are much more active, and are comprised of the owners leading their dogs through an obstacle course as quickly as possible. There are over thirty different kinds of obstacles which are commonly used, and the high energy and excitement level of the competitors makes these events a lot of fun to watch.

With dogs having to traverse teeter-totters and weave in between poles, as well as burrowing their way through a cloth chute, the events sometimes mimic playtime more than anything, and almost any child would love to have a playground as advanced as the dogs have. However, these obstacles were chosen by the organizing committees because they are difficult for the dogs to do on their own. These events emphasize great training and a lot of practice by both dog and owner, and you can almost always see this reflected in the final standings.

Some competitions will disallow leashes, and require that the owners use only their voice and a pointing device to control where their dogs move next, while others will make leashes optional. In general, due to the nature of the obstacles, a leash will be very detrimental to your ability to move through the obstacles quickly, and they are rarely used by those entering to win. In order to have the best chances, you need to have impeccable control over your dog.

Because of this, very few dogs will ever reach the championship echelon of agility competitions. Some dogs simply lack the focus and the responsibility to handle their freedom on the course, which to them will often resemble a gigantic playground. Despite this, any dog can enter these agility events, regardless of breed or the amount of training done beforehand. Some events are specifically set up for children to run their dogs through the course, and they allow the child to practice and gain confidence before going into a more serious competition. While it is primarily adults participating in the larger events, children have been known to enter, and some have done quite well with their dogs.

What makes dog agility training so popular is it’s accessibility. Before, dog events were only for the most distinguished pooches, making it a prerequisite that the dog be not only a purebred, but also a beautiful and a confident one. Dog agility competitions have no such requirement, and will typically involve a whole variety of dogs of every breed and combination thereof. That makes this a much more popular event, as nearly anyone from the myriad dog lovers in the crowd could be the potential winner.

Many national organizations are sprouting up for dog agility training events, the most notable of which is the United States Dog Agility Association, or USDAA. While they are attempting to bring some more control to the sport, tougher regulations and new obstacles, they will never truly be able to command such a spectator friendly sport. Dog agility training is more about the fun of the event and the training process rather than the exact rules and the prize structure, and most trainers and owners will agree that this is one of the most exciting sporting events to come around in years.

In the world of dog agility training, there are a lot of different obstacles that you must train your dogs on. These range from climbing objects to jumps, as well as obedience objects. There are a wide variety of obstacles used in major competitions, and you must familiarize your dog with all of them if you want to win the event. One of the more difficult obstacles for large dogs to train with are the tunnels and chutes.

Some dogs, especially the naturally burrowing breeds like the terrier, are particularly good with these obstacles, but other dogs, particularly large dogs, do not like the enclosed space. Depending on the size of the chute, some dogs may not even be able to stand fully upright in the tube.

In order to get your dog used to the close quarters of this obstacle, many trainers will work first with a familiar object like a blanket. This also mimics the darkness present in longer tunnels. Have your dog stand or lie underneath a table, and drape the blanket over the sides. By repeating the process, they will eventually learn to be more calm when in close quarters, especially when it is dark.

The second thing you must do is to find a way to train your dog to go forward through the tunnel. Some dogs, especially those who have been trained to heel their owners, have difficulty with this change in procedure. By encouraging your dog to enter the chute and stay, then running down to the other end and encouraging them to come, they will eventually learn how to navigate this obstacle successfully without breaking their good habits of trailing their owner.

Another idea to try is to work with distances and viewpoints. One of the reasons that dogs are uncomfortable in the chute is that they cannot see their owner. If you tell your dog to sit and stay, and then move behind a tree or an object in a public park, then their behavior may tell you a lot about why they are unwilling to work on this particular object.

If your dog still shows a preference for going around, rather than through the tunnel, then consider putting a treat in the center of the tunnel to entice them to enter. Food will certainly get their attention! You may also want to work more with the blanket and table trick, and try some variations.

There are also tunnels with collapsed ends, and these are particularly difficult to get fearful dogs involved in. In general, it is best to work with open ended tunnels first to get them used to the idea, and then work with blankets and other short closings.

If they have difficulty with the closed chutes, then look at how they approach them. Train your dog to approach the obstacle with their nose out, and their feet back, as they may be getting caught up because they are stepping on the materials.

As in any sport, safety is paramount in dog agility training. Because these events are very high energy and have some very difficult obstacles, it is necessary that there be a basic safety guide, both for participants and spectators.

Because these events are almost always off-leash events, you need to train your dog to be very well behaved when he or she is given some freedom. Some dogs simply cannot handle themselves, and if this is the case with your dog, you should almost certainly work on this first and foremost before beginning training on obstacles. There are going to be other dogs in the vicinity as well, both among the spectators and with the other competitors in the event. If your dog cannot handle other animals, you should try to expose them to other dogs more often in order to get them used to their presence.

Your dog should be at a point where he or she is able to instantly recognize commands and the sound of your voice. They must know how to stop, stay and sit, at a bare minimum, and it would be preferable if they had learned how to walk at your heels while off-leash. While not only helpful for safety concerns, in general, the more well-behaved they are, the better off they will do in competitions.

Safety must also factor in with the physical and mental maturity of your animal. Younger dogs may lack the coordination necessary to handle certain obstacles like the dog walk, and may lack the understanding necessary to take these obstacles seriously. In addition, some dogs may not have enough weight to manipulate objects like the see-saw. Just like many people, some dogs are afraid of heights, and may balk at the idea of going over obstacles, such as the A frame, which require them to go up higher than normal.

While most of these situations can be handled with good training, it is a bad idea to begin agility training without first knowing what your dog is capable of from a mental standpoint. If they do not like crowds or loud noises, a traditional competition is probably not going to bring out their best, and could leave them in a state of shock. If this is the case with your dog, then it is generally best to only enter smaller, local competitions, where the pressure will not be as intense, and work up to a larger group eventually.

Safety should also be considered for the spectators at these events. Many times, spectator seating is cramped, and many people will bring their dogs into the seating area with them. If you have a large dog that you are bringing, consider leaving him with a trusted friend while you watch the agility competition, or taking a seat towards the back where you are more likely to have some spare leg room. Larger animals tend not to do very well when they lack the room to stretch out, and can cause trouble if they get bored.

Spectators should also remember to keep an eye on their own dogs behavior while watching the competition. One small disturbance caused by your dog could lead to a major outburst from the other dogs in the crowd, which could distract the dogs performing in the event. Not only is this unfair to the dogs running the course, it is also dangerous for them if an outburst occurs on one of the more dangerous obstacles.